Report Shows Progress in Environmental Management

Boston College has completed the first stage in its implementation of an innovative environmental management program that allows the University to determine how best to handle its laboratory waste by-products.

BC developed the program through its association with the Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence, a group of college and universities working with the Environmental Protection Agency to develop safe and cost-effective practices for lab wastes. As part of a pilot project, Boston College and the universities of Massachusetts-Boston and Vermont are permitted to police themselves in meeting federal environmental management guidelines.

The three universities are the only educational institutions in the nation allowed such self-regulation.

Recently, Boston College administrators detailed the progress of its new program in a report to the EPA. The report described ongoing efforts to train lab personnel and students in methods of pollution prevention. The University also outlined plans to improve communication between, and reduce waste in, the approximately 100 campus laboratories.

One benefit of the project noted in the report is increased dialogue between scientific departments and the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

"We've demonstrated that we've had some real success in training and communication on campus, and that's an important first step for this project," said Environmental Health and Safety Officer Gail Hall.